Synthesis and structures of group 11 metal triazenide complexes: ligand supported metallophilic interactions.

A homologous and homoleptic series of stable Group 11 metal triazenide complexes with the general formula M(L') (M = Cu or Au, n = 2; M = Ag, n = 3) featuring the bulky triazenide ligand N,N'-bis(2,6-di-isopropylphenyl)triazene, L'H, have been prepared by the reaction of Li[L'] with the metal chlorides, CuCl, AgCl, and [(THT)AuCl], respectively, in a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio. The compounds [Cu(2)(L')(2)] and [Au(2)(L')(2)] crystallized as dimers with M...M separations of 2.4458(4) A and 2.6762(4) A, respectively. In comparison, the reaction of AgCl with Li[L'] results in the formation of the tri-silver complex [Ag(3)(L')(3)] with Ag...Ag separations of 3.01184(17) A, 2.95329(17) A, and 2.92745(16) A. Attempts to react the parent triazene system L'H with [Cu(Mes)] resulted in the formation of the novel tri-copper system [Cu(3)(L')(2)(Mes)]. In all cases the molecular structures of the resultant complexes have been unambiguously determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction experiments.